BANKING AWARENESS PRACTICE MCQs

1. When Government of India was approved SBISBS Merger ?
(A) In August 2007
(B) In August 2009
(C) In March 2011
(D) In July 2011
See Answer:(A)

2. When RBI made compulsory to the Basel II norms for Banks ?
(A) March 31, 2007
(B) March 31, 2008
(C) March 31, 2010
 (D) March 31, 2011
See Answer:(B)

3. Which bill passed for reducing the minimum level of government's shareholding in equity of SBI from 55 per cent to 51 per cent ?
(A) SBI (Amendment) Bill 2009
(B) SBI (Amendment) Bill 2010
(C) RBI (Amendment) Bill 2012
(D) None of these
See Answer:(B)

4. The Reverse Repo rate as announced by RBI on April 17, 2012 stand at—
(A) 7•0%
(B) 9•0%
(C) 8•0%
(D) 8•5%
See Answer:(A)

5. The new president of ASSOCHAM for the year 2012-13 is—
(A) Dilip Modi
(B) R. V. Kanoria
(C) Raj Kumar Dhoot
(D) N. L. Kidwai
See Answer:(C)

6. The saving-investment gap during 2010-11 has been estimated at—
(A) 2•8% of GDP 
(B) 3•0% of GDP
(C) 3•2% of GDP 
(D) 3•8% of GDP
See Answer:(A)

7. The pace of credit growth for Private Sector banks increased to 11•7 per cent during—
(A) 2010 -11 
(B) 2009 -10
(C) 2012 -13 
(D) 2008 -10
See Answer:(B)

8. According to RBI, bank loan registered a growth of 21•38 per cent in—
(A) 2010-11 
(B) 2009-10
(C) 2010-12 
(D) 2011-12
See Answer:(A)

9. As per RBI, bank deposits growth stood at....... in 2010-11.
(A) 12% 
(B) 13%
(C) 15•84% 
(D) 14•13%
See Answer:(C)

10. RBI has projected growth of 17% in bank deposits for the entire financial year—
(A) 2011-12 
(B) 2010-11
(C) 2011-13 
(D) 2012-13
See Answer:(A)

BANKING AWARENESS MCQs

1. For the development of the banking facilities in the rural areas the Imperial Bank of India was partially nationalised on—
(A) June 1, 1940
(B) June 1, 1942
(C) July 1, 1955
(D) July 1, 1949
Answer: July 1, 1955

2. The Imperial Bank of India was named as the—
(A) Reserve Bank of India
(B) State Bank of India
(C) Union Bank of India
(D) Bank of India
Answer: State Bank of India

3. Which is/are not an associated bank of SBI ?
(A) The State Bank of Hyderabad
(B) The Union Bank of India
(C) The State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur
(D) The State Bank of Mysore
Answer: The Union Bank of India

4. In order to have more control over the banks, 14 large commercial banks whose reserves were more than Rs. 50 crore each were nationalized on—
(A) 19th July, 1969 
(B) 19th July, 1970
(C) 19th July, 1971 
(D) 19th July, 1972
Answer: 19th July, 1969

5. Which is not a nationalised bank ?
(A) Bank of India 
(B) Canara Bank
(C) AXIS Bank
 (D) Vijaya Bank
Answer: AXIS Bank

6. When the Government of India merged the New Bank of India with Punjab National Bank ?
(A) Sept. 4, 1993 
(B) July 1, 1990
(C) July 1, 1993 
(D) March 1, 1993
Answer: Sept. 4, 1993

7. Which is the Central Bank of India ?
(A) The Central Bank of India
(B) The State Bank of India
(C) The Reserve Bank of India
(D) The Union Bank of India
Answer: The Reserve Bank of India

8. The RBI was established in—
(A) 1935 
(B) 1940
(C) 1947 
(D) 1949
Answer: 1935

9. When RBI was set up, the Capital of the Bank was—
(A) 500 crore 
(B) 50 crore
(C) 15 crore 
(D) 5 crore
Answer: 5 crore

10. The general administration and direction of RBI is managed by a Central Board of Directors consisting of–
(A) 20 members 
(B) 15 members
(C) 5 members 
(D) 25 members
Answer: 20 members

Banking Terms

AIDB- All India Development Bank


ATM- Automated Teller Machine is a machine uses a computer that verifi es your account information and PIN (Personal Identification Number) and will dispense or deposit funds per your request)Annuity- Fixed amount of cash to be received every year for a specified period of time

Asset/Liability Risk- A risk that current obligations/ liabilities cannot be met with current assets.
Assets- Things that one owns which have value in financial terms.

Banking Cash Transaction Tax (BCTT) - BCTT is a small tax on cash withdrawal from bank exceeding a particular amount in a single day

Bank Credit – Bank Credit includes Term Loans, Cash Credit, Overdrafts, Bills purchased & discounted, Bank Guarantees, Letters of Guarantee, Letters of credit.

Bank Debits - Sum of the value of all cheques and other instruments charged against the deposited funds of a bank’s customer.

Bank Rate - Interest rate paid by major banks if they borrow from RBI, the Central Bank of the country.

Bank Statement - A periodic record of a customer’s account that is issued at regular intervals, showing all transactions recorded for the period in question

Basis Point- Basis Point is one-hundredth of one percentage point (i.e. 0.01%), normally used for indicating spreads or cost of finance.

Balance of Payment (BoP) – BoP is a statement showing the country’s trade and financial transactions (all economic transactions), in terms of net outstanding receivable or payable from other countries, with the rest of the world for a period of time

BR Act - Banking Regulation Act

Cash reserve Ratio (CRR) - CRR is the amount of funds that the banks have to keep with the RBI. If the central bank decides to increase the CRR, the available amount with the banks comes down

CAD- current account deficit

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) – CRR is a ratio of total capital divided by risk-weighted assets and risk-weighted off-balance sheet items.

Cash Credit (CC) - An arrangement whereby the bank gives a short-term loan against the self-liquidating security

Certificate of Deposit (CD) - CD is a negotiable instrument issued by a bank evidencing time deposit

Cheque - A written order on a bank instrument for payment of a certain amount of money.

C-D ratio- Credit- Deposit Ratio

Corporate Banking - Banking services for large firms

CRAR - Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio

Credit Crunch - Fall in supply of credit even though there is sufficient demand for it

Cross default - Two loan agreements connected by a clause that allows one lender to recall the loan if the borrower defaults with another, and vice versa.

Deposit: A check or cash that is put into your bank account.

Endorse: To sign the back of your check before cashing or depositing it, as proof that you are the person the check was written out to.

Equitable mortgage - Mortgage under which one still owns the property which is security for the mortgage. The owner can occupy or live in the property

Exchange Rate - The rate at which one currency may be exchanged for another

FRNs - Floating Rate Notes

Fixed assets - Assets such as land, buildings, machinery or property used in operating a business that will not be consumed or converted into cash during the current accounting period

Fixed Rate - A predetermined rate of interest applied to the principal of a loan or credit agreement

IFSC Code - Indian Financial System Code or IFSC code is an eleven character code assigned by RBI to identify every bank branches uniquely, that are participating in NEFT system in India

Liquidation – Liquidation is divestment of all the assets of a firm so that the firm ceases to exist

Liquidity- The extent to which or the ease with which an asset may quickly be converted into cash with the least administrative and other costs

Letter of Credit (LC) - A formal document issued by a bank on behalf of a customer, stating the conditions under which the bank will honour the commitments of the customer

Line of Credit - pre-approved credit facility (usually for one year) enabling a bank customer to borrow up to the specified maximum amount at any time during the relevant period of time.

MICR- Magnetic Ink Character Recognition or MICR is the bottom line on all checks. It is printed using a special font.

Monthly Statement: statement received by customers at the end of the month about the account’s activity (what went in and what came out) from the previous month.

NEFT- national electronic funds transfer

Non Performing Assets (NPA) - When due payments in credit facilities remain overdue above a specified period, then such credit facilities are classified as NPA.

NBFCs- Non-banking Finance Companies

NHB- National Housing Bank

Overdraw: To write a check for more money than what is present in the account. Usually there is a fee (known as NSF/non-sufficient funds)

Principal- Principal is the amount of debt that must be repaid. Also means a person who deals in securities on his own account and not as a broker

Prime Lending Rate (PLR) - The rate of interest charged on loans by banks to their most creditworthy customers

PSB - Public Sector Bank

Repo rate- the rate at which the RBI lends money to banks

Reverse repo rate- Reverse Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI borrows money from commercial banks

SCBs - Scheduled Commercial Banks

Statutory Liquidity Ratio- SLR is Statutory Liquidity Ratio. It’s the percentage of Demand and Time Maturities that banks need to have in any or combination of the following forms:
i) Cash
ii) Gold valued at a price not exceeding the current market price,
iii) Unencumbered approved securities (G Secs or Gilts come under this) valued at a price as specified by the RBI from time to time

Standby Letter of Credit - A guarantee issued by a bank, on behalf of a buyer that protects the seller against non-payment for goods shipped to the buyer

Securitization - Securitization is a process of transformation of a bank loan into tradable securities
Selective Credit Control (SCC) - Control of credit flow to borrowers dealing in some essential commodities to discourage hoarding and black-marketing

Tier 1 Capital - Refers to core capital consisting of Capital, Statutory Reserves, Revenue and other reserves, Capital Reserves (excluding Revaluation Reserves) and unallocated surplus/ profit but excluding accumulated losses, investments in subsidiaries and other intangible assets

Tier 2 Capital - Comprises Property Revaluation Reserves, Undisclosed Reserves, Hybrid Capital, Subordinated Term Debt and General Provisions. This is Supplementary Capital.
Withdrawal: To take money out of your bank account. To make a withdrawal is the opposite of making a deposit

BANKING AWARENESS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. First Governor of RBI was – 
a) Hilton Young
b) Paul Samuelson
c) C.D.Deskmukh
d) O.A Smith
Ans. d) O.A Smith

2. At the time of nationalization who was the Governor of RBI-
a) O.A Smith
b) J.B Taylor
c) C.D. Deshmukh
d) K.C.Neogy
Ans. c) C.D. Deshmukh 

3. The RBI was nationalized in the year –
a)1949
b)1956
c)1959
d)1947
Ans. a)1949 

4. The general superintendence and director of the bank is entrusted to central board of directors of –
a)10 members
b) 20 members
c) 25 members
d)30 members
Ans. b) 20 members 

5. Paper currencies of our country are issued by RBI under –
a) Section- 22 of the RBI act -1934
b) Section- 24 of the RBI act -1934
c) Section- 28 of the RBI act -1934
d) None of these
Ans. a) Section- 22 of the RBI act -1934 

6. One rupee currency notes bear the signature of - 
a) PM
b) President of India
c) Governor of RBI
d) Finance Secretary of India
Ans. d) Finance Secretary of India

7. Ten rupees notes bear the signature of –
a) President
b) Finance Minister
c) Secretary of Ministry of finance
d) Governor of RBI
Ans. d) Governor of RBI

8. Which of the following is the banker of the banks –
a) IDBI
b) SBI
c) RBI
d)UTI
Ans. c) RBI 

9. In which of the following banks one can’t open a personal account –
a) Co-Operative Banks
b) Commercial banks
c) Regional Rural Banks
d) RBI
Ans. d) RBI

10. Which of the following banks is the banker to the government –
a) SBI
b) SEBI
c) RBI
d) IRDA
Ans. c) RBI 

11. Which of the followings are the function of RBI –
a) Regulation of currency and flowing of credit system
b) Maintaining exchange values of rupee
c) Formulating monetary policy of India
d) All of these
Ans. d) All of these

12. Credit rationing in India is done by –
a) SBI
b) LIC
c) UTI
d) RBI
Ans. d) RBI

13. The first bank of India was –
a) Bank of Hindusthan
b) Imperial Bank
c) Bank of Bengal
d) Oudh Commercial Bank
Ans. a) Bank of Hindusthan 

14. The first Indian fully liability and managed bank was –
a) PNB
b) Traders Bank
c) SBI
d) 0 Presidency Bank of India
Ans. a) PNB 

15. The rates at which the RBI extends credit to the commercial bank is called –
a) Bank Rate
b) Reverse Repo Rate
c)Interest Rate
d) None of these
Ans. a) Bank Rate 

16. In which of the following is not the any element of monetary policy of  RBI –
a) Bank rate
b) Open Market Operation
c) Public Expenditure
d) All of these
Ans. c) Public Expenditure 

17. 100 rupees note bears the signature of –
a) Governor of RBI
b) PM
c) Finance Secretary of India
d) Chairman of Finance Commission
Ans. a) Governor of RBI 

18. Which of the following is the last lender of the last resort of commercial bank-
a) SBI
b) Union Govt.
c) RBI
d) UTI
Ans. c) RBI 

19. The RBI is agent of central government and of all state government except –
a) Bihar
b) Goa
c) Jammu and Kashmir
d) Mizoram
Ans. c) Jammu and Kashmir 

20. Controller of credit of commercial banks in our country is –
a) RBI
b)SEBI
c) ICI
d)UTI
Ans. a) RBI 

21. The Banking Concept in India was first developed by –
a) British
b) French
c) Indian
d) None of these
Ans. a) British 

22. The rate at which RBI gives short term credit to the commercial banks against government securities with buy back provision is called –
a) Bank Rate
b) Repo Rate
c) Reverse repo rate
d) Interest rate
Ans. b) Repo Rate

23. The rate at which RBI takes loans from commercial banks is called –
a)  Repo Rate
b) Reverse Repo Rate
c) Bank Rate
d) Interest Rate
Ans. b) Reverse Repo Rate 

24. At present the Reverse Repo Rate of RBI is (As of 25th Nov) –
a) 8.25
b) 7.25
c) 7.50
d)8.50
Ans. d)8.50

25. Bank rate of RBI is also known as –
a) Interest Rate
b) Discount Rate
c) fed rate
d) bid rate
Ans. b) Discount Rate

26. Which of the following is not the any element of quantitative credit control policy of RBI –
a) CRR
b) SLR
c) Selective credit control
d) open market operation.
Ans. c) Selective credit control

27. At present CRR of RBI is –
a) 6%
b) 7.5%
c) 8.5%
d) none of these
Ans. a) 6%

28. The limitation of CRR of RBI is –
a)3-10 %
b) 3-15%
c) 15-38%
d) 10-25%
Ans. b) 3-15%

29. The apex organization of Indian money market is –
a)SBI
b) SEBI
c) RBI
d) IRDA
Ans. c) RBI

30. If the cash reserve is lowered by RBI, what will be its effect on credit creation –
a) Decrease
b) Increase
c) No Change
d) None of these
Ans. b) Increase

31. The expansion of money supply of an economy depends on –
a) The policy of CRR
b) The bank rate policy
c) Open market operation
d) All of these
Ans. d) All of these

32. Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act? –
a) Adult Members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe holders
b) Adult of below poverty line household
c) Adult members of household of all backward community
d) adult members of any rural household
e) None of these
Ans. d) adult members of any rural household 

33. Which of the following banks merged with Punjab national banks in 1993 –
a) New bank of India
b) Central Bank of India
c) Imperial Bank of India
d) Common bank of India
Ans. a) New bank of India

34. A currency, the exchange values of which is expected to remain stable due to strong performance by it’s economy. This currency is –
a) Soft Currency
b) Hot currency
c) Fiat currency
d) None of these (Hard Currency)
Ans. d) None of these (Hard Currency)

35. The Reserve Bank of India issues under the following note issue method? –
a) Proportional Reserve System
b) Minimum Reserve System
c) Maximum Reserve System
d) Fixed Fiduciary System
Ans. b) Minimum Reserve System

36. What is a Scheduled Bank? –
a) A bank having Rs 10 Crore deposits
b) A bank having Rs 100 Crore deposits
c) A bank having Rs 5 Crore deposits
d) A bank included in the second schedule of RBI act 1934.
Ans. d) A bank included in the second schedule of RBI act 1934.

37. How many languages are used on a Ten Rupee note? –
a) 2
b) 7
c) 10
d) 15
e) 16
Ans. d) 15

38. The place where bankers meet and settle their mutual claims and accounts is known as –
a) Treasury
b) Clearing House
c) Dumping House
d) Collection centre
Ans. b) Clearing House

39. The largest Public sector bank in India –
a) SBI
b) PNB
c) RBI
d) ICICI
Ans. a) SBI

40. Which of the following is not the function of RBI –
a) Banker’s bank
b) Banker to public
c) custodian of foreign exchange
d) Bankers to Govt.
Ans. b) Banker to public

41. Who is responsible for the collection and publication of monetary and financial information-  
a) Finance Commission
b) Finance ministry
c) RBI
d) Auditor and Comptroller general of India
Ans. c) RBI

42. Which of the following regulatory authority  to oversee the new issues, protect the investment and investors, promote the development of Capital Market and regulate the working of Stock Exchange –
a) UTI b) IRDA
c) RBI
d) SEBI
e) None of these
Ans. d) SEBI

43. After a long span of 22 years, RBI released Rs.1000/- currency note for circulation in –
a) 2000
b) 2002
c) 2005
d) 2008
Ans. a) 2000

44. Regional Rural banks are working in all states of the country except –
a) Sikkim and Goa
b) Sikkim and Manipur
c) Manipur and Nagaland
d) Jammu and Kashmir
Ans. a) Sikkim and Goa

45. The National Housing Bank  is a subsidiary of –
a) RBI
b) NABARD
c) IDBI
d) UTI
Ans. a) RBI

46. At present the ceiling of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in insurance sector in India is –
a) 26%
b) 49%
c) 51%
d) 74%
Ans. a) 26%

47. Rs. 25 Paisa was ceased by the Govt of India on –
a) 30th june 2011
b) 30th July 2011
c) 1st January 2011
d) 1st July 2011
Ans. a) 30th june 2011

48. Initial Public Offering (IPO) is associated with –
a) RBI
b) Stock Exchange
c) IRDA
d) Indian Postal Service
Ans. b) Stock Exchange

49. The Basic regulatory authority for mutual funds and stock markets lies with the –
a) Government of India
b) Reserve Bank of India
c) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
d) Stock Exchange
Ans. c) Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

50. Monetary policy Referes to the policy of –
a) Money Lenders
b) Government
c) Commercial Banks
d) RBI
Ans. d) RBI

Syndicate Bank Recruitment of 1000 Probationary Clerks

Syndicate Bank invites applications for the post of Probationary Clerks from Indian citizens who have taken the Common Written Examination for Clerical Cadre conducted by IBPS in Nov./Dec.2011 and have a valid Score card issued by IBPS subject to fulfillment of other eligibility criteria.
For details regarding vacancies and cut-off marks State/UT-wise, category-wise, eligibility criteria, fees/intimation charges, application procedure, selection procedure, reservation/relaxation etc., please visit the Bank’s website www.syndicatebank.in between 01.06.2012 and 15.06.2012.
The Clerical recruitment would be on State/UT-wise basis. It will therefore be necessary that candidates apply for vacancies of State/UT from which they have appeared for the Common Written Examination in which they have qualified.
Candidates should possess proficiency in the Official /Regional Language of the State/UT for which vacancies he/she wishes to apply (To read, write & speak).

IMPORTANT DATES:
Payment of Application Fees at Syndicate Bank Branches           01.06.2012 To 15.06.2012
Opening date for Online Registration                                           01.06.2012
Last Date for Online Registration
(Including for candidates from far-flung areas )                            15.06.2012
The number of vacancies and also the number of reserved vacancies is provisional and may vary according to actual requirements of the Bank.

White Paper on Black Money

Placed below is a link for White Paper on Black Money:

Click here to see details

Village Grain Banks in Karnataka

After the transfer of the Village Grain Banks(VGB) Scheme to the Department of Food & Public Distribution by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in November 2004, this Department in February 2006 circulated guidelines of the Scheme to all States/ Union Territories including Karnataka for sending proposals for establishment of VGBs as per the guidelines. The Government of Karnataka in September 2006 conveyed that the scheme would not be applicable to the State as there are no chronically food scarce areas in the State and also no tribal and hilly areas which are inaccessible during periods of drought and floods. Hence, the Central Government has not sanctioned/released funds to the Government of Karnataka for establishment of VGBs in the State till date. The guidelines issued by the Government gives, inter alia, details of the scope and objectives of the scheme, the areas/regions where the Grain Banks can be established, the organisations eligible to establish the VGBs the methodology of implementation, funding pattern, monitoring and evaluation. As per the guidelines Grain Banks are to be established in food scarce areas such as drought prone, hot and cold desert, tribal and inaccessible hilly areas etc. New Delhi

Bank Accounts with Zero Balance

With a view to achieve the objective of greater financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued instructions to all Scheduled Commercial Banks in November 2005, to make available a basic banking ‘no-frills’ account either with ‘nil’ or very low minimum balances as well as charges that would make such accounts accessible to vast sections of population. As per RBI, the number of no-frills accounts outstanding with Public Sector Banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks) and Private Sector Banks at end of March 2012, is 1032.06 lakhs. 

Functioning of RRBs

The Government reviews the performance of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on an ongoing basis. The Committee constituted by Government under the chairmanship of Dr. K.C. Chakrabarty on Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) has reviewed the performance and the financial position of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). After assessment of financial position of RRBs the Committee in April, 2010 inter-alia recommended recapitalization of 40 RRBs to improve their CRAR. 

In view of the recommendations of Dr. Chakrabarty Committee, an amount of Rs. 66.49 crore was released to 5 RRBs during 2010-11 and Rs.402.43 crore has been release to 19 RRBs during 2011-12 as the release of Central Government share is subject to the release of proportionate share by concerned State Government and sponsor bank. 

As per information reported by NABARD, the total loan issued by RRBs have increased from Rs.56,079 crore during 2009-10 to Rs.71,724.19 crore during 2010-11 registering a growth of 27.89%.

Agricultural Credit

The Government has taken several policy measures from time to time to increase the availability of credit to the rural areas in general and farmers in particular. These inter-alia include the following: 

• In terms of Reserve Bank’s extant guidelines on lending to priority sector, a target of 40 per cent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (OBE), whichever is higher, as on March 31 of the previous year, has been mandated for lending to the priority sector by domestic scheduled commercial banks, both in the public and private sector. Within this, a sub-target of 18 per cent of ANBC of Credit Equivalent amount of OBE, whichever is higher, as on March 31 of the previous year, has been mandated for lending to agriculture sector.

• The Government has been setting an annual target for the flow of credit to the agriculture sector. The agriculture target for 2012-13 is fixed at Rs.5,75,000 crore against the target of Rs.4,75,000 crore in 2011-12.

• The Interest Subvention Scheme is being implemented by the Government of India since 2006-07 to make short-term crop loans upto Rs.3 lakh for a period of one year available to farmers at the interest rate of 7 per cent per annum. The Government of India has since 2009-10 been providing additional interest subvention to prompt payee farmers. The additional subvention was 1% in 2009-10, 2% in 2010-11 and 3% in 2011-12. The Government has in the Budget speech of 2012-13 announced continuation of the scheme in 2012-13. 

• RBI has also advised banks to waive margin/security requirements for agricultural loans upto Rs.1,00,000. 

• The Agricultural Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme (ADWDRS), 2008 was implemented by the Government. This Scheme has de-clogged the lines of credit that were clogged due to the debt burden on the farmers and make the farmers eligible for fresh loans. Under the scheme Rs.52,275.55 crore has been released by the Government through RBI and NABARD to give benefit to 3.45 crore farmers. 

• Banks have been advised to issue Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to all eligible farmers and General Credit Cards (GCC) to non-farmers. A new scheme for KCC has been circulated by NABARD which provides for KCC as an ATM card which can be used at ATM/ Point of sale (POS) terminals.